Method of covering a pot with a floral sleeve having a side-sealed bottom gusset

ABSTRACT

A floral sleeve and method of using the floral sleeve to cover a pot. The floral sleeve has an inwardly folded bottom gusset for forming a bottom in the sleeve which is concealed by the lower sidewall of the sleeve when the sleeve is opened and a pot is disposed therein. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

[0002] This invention generally relates to sleeves, and, moreparticularly, to floral sleeves used to contain floral groupings and/ormedia, or used to wrap flower pots containing floral groupings and/ormedia containing floral grouping, and methods of using same.

[0003] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,595,022; 5,615,535; 5,740,657; 5,816,023;5,687,845; 5,810,169; 5,944,187 and 6,152,301, contain subject matterwhich may be relevant to the present application. The disclosures ofeach of the above-mentioned patents are hereby expressly incorporatedherein by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a floral sleeve constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 1taken along line 2-2 thereof.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 1.

[0007]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 1 in anopened condition and having a pot and floral grouping disposed therein.

[0008]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the opened floral sleeve of FIG.4.

[0009]FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thefloral sleeve of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thefloral sleeve of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thefloral sleeve of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 9 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thefloral sleeve of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 9having a pot and floral grouping disposed therein.

[0014]FIG. 11 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thefloral sleeve of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 12 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thefloral sleeve of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 13 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thefloral sleeve of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 14 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thefloral sleeve of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention contemplates in a preferred version apreformed flexible floral sleeve having a tubular shape for covering aflower pot having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheralsurface. The preformed flexible floral sleeve comprises a body which mayhave a skirt portion and which may have a straight or non-linear upperedge. The preformed flexible floral sleeve may further comprise adetachable upper portion which may be sized to surround and encompass afloral grouping. The upper portion when present may be detachable via adetaching element, such as but not by way of limitation, perforations,tear strips, weakened areas, or zippers. The upper portion may have oneor more apertures for serving as a handle or for enabling the preformedflexible floral sleeve to be supported from a support device.

[0019] The preformed flexible floral sleeve (also referred to herein asa floral sleeve, a sleeve or a sleeve cover) may form part of a plantpackage when used in conjunction with a flower pot disposed within aninterior space of the body of the floral sleeve, the flower potpreferably having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein theflower pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the body andthe floral grouping is at least partially surrounded and encompassed andmay be entirely enclosed by the upper portion when it forms a part ofthe floral sleeve.

[0020] Also, the body may comprise an adhesive or cohesive bondingmaterial disposed on an inner surface thereof for bondingly connectingthe body to a flower pot disposed therein. Alternately, a bondingmaterial may be disposed on an outer surface of the body for securing acrimped portion having a plurality of crimped folds formed in the body.

[0021] These embodiments and others of the present invention are nowdescribed in more detail below. It will be appreciated that the examplesprovided herein are not intended to limit the scope and extent of theclaimed invention but are only intended to exemplify various of theembodiments of the invention contemplated herein.

Embodiments of FIGS. 1-14

[0022] Referring now to the drawing, shown in FIGS. 1-5 and designatedtherein by the general reference numeral 10 is a floral sleeve, alsoreferred to herein simply as a sleeve. The floral sleeve 10 is initiallyin a substantially flattened state (FIGS. 1-3) and is openable to anopened condition (FIGS. 4-5) for containing and covering a flower pot.

[0023] The floral sleeve 10 has a body 12 having an upper end 14, alower end 16, a first panel 18 having a first upper edge 20 and a firstlower edge 22 and a second panel 24 having a second upper edge 26 and asecond lower edge 28 which is generally parallel and adjacent to thefirst lower edge 22.

[0024] The body 12 has an interior space 30. The first panel 18 has aninner surface 32 and an outer surface 34. The second panel 24 has aninner surface 36 and an outer surface 38.

[0025] In the flattened condition, the first panel 18 and second panel24 are positioned flatwise upon each other and are connected along asealed left side edge 40 and a sealed right side edge 42 both of whichextend from the upper end 14 to the lower end 16. The first panel 18 andsecond panel 24 together comprise a sidewall 44 of the body 12. The body12 further comprises a gusset 46 extending inwardly into the interiorspace 30 from the first lower edge 22 and the second lower edge 28. Thegusset 46 has an inner surface 48 exposed to the interior space 30 andan outer surface 50 exposed outwardly. The gusset 46 has an inner fold52 which extends from the left side edge 40 to the right side edge 42.The body 12 preferably has a tapered shape in the flattened condition,wherein the body 12 is wider at the upper end 14 and more narrow at thelower end 16, such that in the opened condition the floral sleeve 10preferably has a frusto-conical shape (FIG. 4). As noted, the floralsleeve 10 preferably has a frusto-conical shape when opened, but may becylindrical or may even have a rectangular shape when opened.

[0026] When the floral sleeve 10 is converted to an opened condition,the gusset 46 is unfolded to form a bottom 54 in the body 12. When a pot62 is disposed within the interior space 30 and a bottom 68 of a lowerend 66 of the pot 62 is disposed upon the bottom 54 of the body 12, thebottom 54 has three surface portions, including (1) a lower bottomsurface 56 covering the bottom 68 Of the pot 62, (2) a left side bottomsurface 58 which extends upwardly from the lower bottom surface 56 andis disposed between the sidewall 44 of the body 12 and an outerperipheral surface 70 of the pot, and (3) a right side bottom surface 60which extends upwardly from the lower bottom surface 56 and is disposedbetween the sidewall 44 of the body 12 and the outer peripheral surface70 of the pot. In the opened condition of the floral sleeve 10, thebottom 54 of the body 12 is substantially completely concealed by alower portion of the sidewall 44 of the body 12.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 6, another floral sleeve embodied in thepresent invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10 a.Floral sleeve 10 a has a body 12 a, an upper end 14 a, a lower end 16 a,an upper edge 20 a, a sidewall 44 a, a gusset 46 a, and an inner gussetfold 52 a. The floral sleeve 10 a is essentially the same as floralsleeve 10 except the upper edge 20 a has an angular pattern forming askirt portion 72 in the body 12 a. The skirt portion 72 is generallysized to extend a distance above an upper end 64 of the pot 62 (FIG. 4)when the pot 62 is disposed within the floral sleeve 10 a when in theopened condition.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 7 another floral sleeve embodied in thepresent invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10 b.Floral sleeve 10 b has a body 12 b, an upper end 14 b, a lower end 16 b,an upper edge 20 b, a sidewall 44 b, a gusset 46 b, and an inner gussetfold 52 b. The floral sleeve 10 b is essentially the same as floralsleeve 10 except the upper edge 20 b has a curved pattern forming askirt portion 72 b in the body 12 b. The skirt portion 72 b is generallysized to extend a distance above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when thepot 62 is disposed within the floral sleeve 10 b when in the openedcondition.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 8, another floral sleeve embodied in thepresent invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10 c.Floral sleeve 10 c has a body 12 c, an upper end 14 c, a lower end 16 c,a sidewall 44 c, a gusset 46 c, and an inner gusset fold 52 c. Thefloral sleeve 10 c is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10 except thefloral sleeve 10 c further comprises an upper portion 74 having an upperedge 76, and apertures 78 and which is detachable via a detachingelement 80. The apertures 78 are optional and serve to adapt the upperportion 74 to support the entire floral sleeve 10 c from a supportassembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternativeembodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves 10 c may be provided in a pad,with the upper portions 74 of adjacent floral sleeves 10 c connectedtogether by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material in a manner wellknown in the art. Preferably, the body 12 c of the floral sleeve 10 c isdetached from the upper portion 74 before the body 10 c is placed aboutthe pot 62.

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, another floral sleeve embodiedin the present invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10d. Floral sleeve 10 d has a body 12 d, an upper end 14 d, a lower end 16d, a sidewall 44 d, a gusset 46 d, and an inner gusset fold 52 d. Thefloral sleeve 10 d is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10 except thefloral sleeve 10 d further comprises upper portion 74 d having an upperedge 76, apertures 78 and which is detachable via a detaching element 80d. The apertures 78 are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion 74d to support the entire floral sleeve 10 d from a support assembly suchas a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, aplurality of floral sleeves 10 d may be provided in a pad, with theupper portions 74 d of adjacent floral sleeves 10 d connected togetherby an adhesive or cohesive bonding material in a manner well known inthe art.

[0031] The upper portion 74 d is generally sized to surround and enclosea floral grouping 82 having a lower portion 84 and an upper portion 86comprising blooms or foliage, which is disposed within the pot 62 whenthe pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein is disposed within the openedfloral sleeve 10 d. The upper portion 74 d is generally detached fromthe body 12 d via the detaching element 80 d at some time after thefloral sleeve 10 d has been disposed about the pot 62 and floralgrouping 82, for example after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 thereinhave been shipped to a vendor, but may be detached at any time, eitherbefore or after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 are placed within thefloral sleeve 10 d.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 11, another floral sleeve embodied in thepresent invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10 e.Floral sleeve 10 e has a body 12 e, an upper end 14 e, a lower end 16 e,a sidewall 44 e, a gusset 46 e, and an inner gusset fold 52 e. Thefloral sleeve 10 e is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10 c in thatthe floral sleeve 10 e comprises upper portion 74 e having an upper edge76, apertures 78 and which is detachable via a detaching element 80 e.The apertures 78 are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion 74 eto support the entire floral sleeve 10 e from a support assembly such asa wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, aplurality of floral sleeves 10 e may be provided in a pad, with theupper portions 74 e of adjacent floral sleeves 10 e connected togetherby an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device ina manner well known in the art. Preferably, the body 12 e of the floralsleeve 10 e is detached from the upper portion 74 e before the body 10 eis placed about the pot 62.

[0033] The detaching element 80 e differs from detaching element 80 offloral sleeve 10 c in that detaching element 80 e has an angular patternrather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upperportion 74 e is detached from the body 12 e, a skirt portion 72 e isleft on the body 12 e. The skirt portion 72 e preferably is sized toextend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within thefloral sleeve 10 e.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 12, another floral sleeve embodied in thepresent invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10 f.Floral sleeve 10 f has a body 12 f, an upper end 14 f, a lower end 16 f,a sidewall 44 f, a gusset 46 f, and an inner gusset fold 52 f. Thefloral sleeve 10 f is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10 d in thatthe floral sleeve 10 f comprises upper portion 74 f having an upper edge76 f, apertures 78 and which is detachable via a detaching element 80 f.The apertures 78 are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion 74 fto support the entire floral sleeve 10 f from a support assembly such asa wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, aplurality of floral sleeves 10 f may be provided in a pad, with theupper portions 74 f of adjacent floral sleeves 10 f connected togetherby an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device ina manner well known in the art.

[0035] The upper portion 74 f is generally sized to surround and enclosethe floral grouping 82 having the lower portion 84 and the upper portion86 comprising blooms or foliage, which is disposed within the pot 62when the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein is disposed within theopened floral sleeve 10 f. The upper portion 74 f is generally detachedfrom the body 12 f via the detaching element 80 f at some time after thefloral sleeve 10 f has been disposed about the pot 62 and the floralgrouping 82, for example after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 thereinhave been shipped to a vendor, but may be detached at any time, eitherbefore or after the pot 62 and floral grouping 82 are placed within thefloral sleeve 10 d.

[0036] The detaching element 80 f differs from detaching element 80 offloral sleeve 10 d in that detaching element 80 f has an angular patternrather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upperportion 74 f is detached from the body 12 f, a skirt portion 72 f isleft on the body 12 f. The skirt portion 72 f preferably is sized toextend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within thefloral sleeve 10 f.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 13, another floral sleeve embodied in thepresent invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10 g.Floral sleeve 10 g has a body 12 g, an upper end 14 g, a lower end 16 g,a sidewall 44 g, a gusset 46 g, and an inner gusset fold 52 g. Thefloral sleeve log is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10 c in thatthe floral sleeve 10 g comprises an upper portion 74 g having an upperedge 76, apertures 78 and which is detachable via a detaching element 80g. The apertures 78 are optional and serve to adapt the upper portion 74g to support the entire floral sleeve log from a support assembly suchas a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternative embodiment, aplurality of floral sleeves 10 g may be provided in a pad, with theupper portions 74 g of adjacent floral sleeves log connected together byan adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attaching device in amanner well known in the art. Preferably, the body 12 g of the floralsleeve 10 g is detached from the upper portion 74 g before the body 10 gis placed about the pot 62.

[0038] The detaching element 80 g differs from detaching element 80 offloral sleeve 10 c in that detaching element 80 g has an curved patternrather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upperportion 74 g is detached from the body 12 g, a skirt portion 72 g isleft on the body 12 g. The skirt portion 72 g preferably is sized toextend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within thefloral sleeve 10 g.

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 14, another floral sleeve embodied in thepresent invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10 h.Floral sleeve 10 h has a body 12 h, an upper end 14 h, a lower end 16 h,a sidewall 44 h, a gusset 46 h, and an inner gusset fold 52 h. Thefloral sleeve 10 h is essentially similar to floral sleeve 10 d in thatthe floral sleeve 10 h comprises an upper portion 74 h having an upperedge 76, and apertures 78 and which is detachable via a detachingelement 80 h. The apertures 78 are optional and serve to adapt the upperportion 74 h to support the entire floral sleeve 10 h from a supportassembly such as a wicket, or staple, for example. In an alternativeembodiment, a plurality of floral sleeves 10 h may be provided in a pad,with upper portions 74 h of adjacent floral sleeves 10 h connectedtogether by an adhesive or cohesive bonding material or other attachingdevice in a manner well known in the art.

[0040] The upper portion 74 h is sized to surround and enclose a floralgrouping 82 having a lower portion 84 and an upper portion 86 comprisingblooms or foliage, disposed within the pot 62 when the pot 62 and floralgrouping 82 therein is disposed within the opened floral sleeve 10 h.The upper portion 74 h is generally detached from the body 12 h via thedetaching element 80 h at some time after the floral sleeve 10 h hasbeen disposed about the pot 62 and floral grouping 82, for example afterthe pot 62 and floral grouping 82 therein have been shipped to a vendor,but may be detached at any time, either before or after the pot 62 andfloral grouping 82 are placed within the floral sleeve 10 d.

[0041] The detaching element 80 h differs from detaching element 80 offloral sleeve 10 d in that detaching element 80 h has an curved patternrather than a substantially horizontal problem, such that when the upperportion 74 h is detached from the body 12 h, a skirt portion 72 h isleft on the body 12 h. The skirt portion 72 h preferably is sized toextend above the upper end 64 of the pot 62 when disposed within thefloral sleeve 10 h.

[0042] The upper edges 20 a and 20 b of sleeves 10 a and 10 b,respectively, and the detaching element 80 e-80 h of sleeves 10 e-10 h,respectively, are shown as having angular or curved non-linear patterns.The angular and curved patterns are but two non-linear patterns whichmay be employed in the construction of the floral sleeves contemplatedherein. Other configurations will be readily apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art, for example, those shown in FIGS. 2A-2F ofU.S. Pat. No. 5,829,225, the specification of which is hereby expresslyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0043] Any of the flexible floral sleeves contemplated herein may alsobe equipped with drainage elements (e.g., one or more holes) in thebodies 10-10 h thereof or ventilation holes (not shown) in the bodies10-10 h or upper portions 74 d, 74 f or 74 h or can be made frompermeable or impermeable materials.

[0044] The material from which the flexible floral sleeves 10-10 h areconstructed preferably has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil toabout 30 mils. Often, the thicknesses of the floral sleeves 10-10 h arein a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils or preferably, in a rangefrom about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. Preferably, the floral sleeves 10-10h are constructed from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid,or any combination thereof. The floral sleeves 10-10 h may beconstructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers ofthe same or different types of materials. Any thickness of the materialmay be utilized as long as the material functions in accordance with thepresent invention as described herein. The layers of material comprisingthe flexible floral sleeves may be connected together or laminated ormay be separate layers. Such materials used to construct the floralsleeves are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference. Any thickness of material may beutilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the floralsleeves 10-10 h may be formed as described herein, and as long as thefloral sleeves 10-10 h may contain at least a portion of a flower pot,potted plant, growing medium or floral grouping, as described herein.Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film, preferable asone of two or more layers, can be utilized in order to provideadditional protection for the item, such as the floral grouping,contained therein.

[0045] The floral sleeves 10-10 h are constructed from any suitablematerial that is capable of being formed into a floral sleeve ascontemplated herein and wrapped about a flower pot and a floral groupingdisposed therein. Preferably, the material comprises treated oruntreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film woven,or nonwoven fabric, or synthetic or natural fabric, cardboard, fiber,cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.

[0046] The term “polymeric film” when used herein means a film made of asynthetic polymer such as a polypropylene or a naturally occurringpolymer such as cellophane. A polymeric film is relatively strong andnot as subject to tearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be thecase with paper or foil.

[0047] In one embodiment, the floral sleeves 10-10 h may be constructedfrom sheets comprising two polypropylene films. The material comprisingthe flexible floral sleeves 10-10 h may be connected together orlaminated or may be separate layers. In an alternative embodiment, theflexible floral sleeves 10-10 h may be constructed from only one sheetof the polypropylene film.

[0048] The materials comprising the floral sleeves 10-10 h may vary incolor and as described herein consists of designs or decorative patternswhich are printed, etched, and/or embossed thereon using inks or otherprinting materials. An example of an ink which may be applied to thesurface of the material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706, whichis hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0049] In addition, the material may have various colorings, coatings,flocking and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surfaceornamentation applied separately or simultaneously or may becharacterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent,transparent, iridescent, neon, or the like, qualities. The material mayfurther comprise, or have applied thereto, one or more scents. Each ofthe above-named characteristics may occur alone or in combination andmay be applied to the upper and/or lower surface of the materialcomprising the floral sleeves 10-10 h. Moreover, portions of thematerial used in constructing the floral sleeves 10-10 h may vary in thecombination of such characteristics. The material utilized for thefloral sleeves 10-10 h may be opaque, translucent, transparent, orpartially clear or tinted transparent.

[0050] The term “floral grouping” as used herein means cut freshflowers, artificial flowers, a single flower or other fresh and/orartificial plants or other floral materials and may include othersecondary plants and/or ornamentation or artificial or natural materialswhich add to the aesthetics of the overall floral grouping. The floralgrouping comprises a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion.Further, the floral grouping may comprise a growing potted plant havinga root portion (not shown) as well. However, it will be appreciated thatthe floral grouping may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage,or a botanical item (not shown), or a propagule (not shown). The term“floral grouping” may be used interchangeably herein with both the terms“floral arrangement” and “potted plant”. The term “floral grouping” mayalso be used interchangeably herein with the terms “botanical item”and/or “propagule”.

[0051] The term “growing medium” when used herein means any liquid,solid or gaseous material used for plant growth or for the cultivationof propagules, including organic and inorganic materials such as soil,humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, water, foam, and including thenutrients, fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required bythe plants or propagules for growth.

[0052] The term “botanical item” when used herein means a natural orartificial herbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in combination.The term “botanical item” also means any portion or portions of naturalor artificial herbaceous or woody plants including stems, leaves,flowers, blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or roots, taken singly or incombination, or in groupings of such portions such as bouquet of floralgrouping.

[0053] The term “propagule” when used herein means any structure capableof being propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction includingseeds, shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots, or spores.

[0054] In accordance with the present invention a bonding material mayoptionally be disposed on a portion of any of the floral sleeves 10-10 hdescribed herein to attach each floral sleeve 10-10 h to a flower pot 62having a floral grouping 82 therein when such a flower pot 62 isdisposed within the floral sleeve 10-10 h or to assist in closing orsealing the upper portion 74 or 74 d-74 h of the floral sleeve 10 c-10 hor in adhering the floral sleeve 10-10 h to the flower pot 62 after theflower pot 62 has been disposed therein. Examples of how a bondingmaterial may be disposed on the floral sleeve 10-10 h are shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,493,809 and in 5,625,979, each of which is hereby expresslyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0055] The term “detaching element” 80 and 80 d-80 h when used generallyherein, means any element or device such as, but not limited to,perforations, tear strips, zippers, and any other devices or elements ofthis nature known in the art, or any combination thereof, which enablethe tearing away or detachment of one object from another. Therefore,while perforations are shown and described in detail herein, it will beunderstood that tear strips, zippers, or any other “detaching element”known in the art, or any combination thereof, could be substitutedtherefore and/or used therewith.

[0056] The upper portions 74 and 74 d-74 h of the floral sleeves 10 c-10h, respectively may also have an additional vertical detaching elementcomprising a plurality of vertical perforations (not shown) forfacilitating removal of the upper portion 74 or 74 d-74 h and which aredisposed more or less vertically therein.

[0057] It will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the artthat equipment and devices for forming flexible floral sleeves arecommercially available, and are well known to a person of ordinary skillin the art. Therefore, further detailed discussion of the constructionof the sleeves described herein is not deemed necessary.

[0058] However, briefly, the flexible floral sleeves 10-10 h describedherein may be formed by intermittently advancing, one or two webspreformed in the form of a tube, or a single web folded double,indenting the lower end to form a folded pouch portion for forming thegusset, and sealing the longitudinal sides of the two facing panels,then cutting the floral sleeve 10-10 h thus formed from the webs or web.Machines which can form floral sleeves 10-10 h from such single webs ortubes are well within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0059] The term “flower pot 62” as used herein refers to any type ofcontainer used for holding a floral grouping or plant, including vases.Examples of pots, used in accordance with the present invention include,but are not limited to, clay pots, foam pots, wooden pots, plastic pots,pots made from natural and/or synthetic fibers, and/or any combinationthereof. The flower pot 62 is adapted to receive a floral grouping 82 inthe retaining space thereof. The floral grouping 82 may be disposedwithin the flower pot 62 along with a suitable growing medium describedelsewhere herein, or other retaining medium, such as a floral foam. Itwill also be understood that a floral grouping, botanical item orpropagule and any appropriate growing medium or other retaining medium,may be disposed in the floral sleeve 10-10 h without the flower pot 62for displaying, transporting or cultivating the item disposed within thefloral sleeve 10-10 h.

[0060] Preferably the floral sleeve 10-10 h is sized to contain andconform to one of a variety of standard sizes of pots known to those ofordinary skill in the art, such as 4 inch, 4½ inch, 5 inch, 5½ inch, 6inch, 6½ inch, 7 inch, 7½ inch, 8 inch and 8½ inch pots or pots that arelarger than, smaller than, or intermediate between such pot sizes.

[0061] Although not shown herein, any of the sleeves 10-10 h describedherein may be used as a container for a growing medium and a floralgrouping 82 wherein the floral grouping 82 is disposed within thegrowing medium without using a pot 62. In a preferred version, at leasta portion of the sleeve 10-10 h is constructed of a material resistantor impermeable to leakage, while the detachable upper portion, ifpresent, is preferably constructed of a thinner transparent material.

[0062] Any of the floral sleeves described or contemplated herein, suchas floral sleeves 10-10 h may be secured about the pot 62 by a bandingelement or by forming a crimped portion which is held in a crimped shapeby an adhesive or cohesive bonding material. The term “banding element”when used herein may include elastic bands, ties, wires, labels, bands,ribbons, strings, tapes, staples and/or combinations thereof. Thebanding element or crimped portion could be positioned either above orbelow the upper end 66 of the pot 62 when the pot 62 is disposed in theinterior space 30 of the floral sleeve 10-10 h.

[0063] It should be further noted that various features of the versionsof the present invention such as closure bonding areas, supportapertures, handles or handle apertures, additional perforations,drainage holes, ventilation holes, combinations of material may be usedalone or in combination as elements of any of the embodiments describedabove herein.

[0064] Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of thevarious components, elements and assemblies described herein or in thesteps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of covering a pot, comprising: providinga floral sleeve comprising: a body having an upper end, a lower end, afirst panel having a first upper edge and a first lower edge, a secondpanel having a second upper edge and a second lower edge, an interiorspace and a gusset extending inwardly from the lower end into theinterior space, the body having a left side edge sealed from the upperend to the lower end, a right side edge sealed from the upper end to thelower end, the first panel and the second panel together forming asidewall in the body, the body tapered from the upper end to the lowerend, the gusset having an inner fold extending from the left side edgeto the right side edge, the body initially having a flattened condition,and wherein when the body is opened from the flattened condition to anopened condition for containing a pot, the gusset is unfolded to form abottom in the body, the bottom having a lower bottom surface, a leftside bottom surface extending upwardly from the lower bottom surface tothe left side edge, and a right side bottom surface extending upwardlyfrom the lower bottom surface to the right side edge; opening the floralsleeve to expose the interior space; and disposing a pot within theinterior space to form a covered pot.
 2. The method of claim 1 whereinin the step of providing a floral sleeve, at least one of the firstupper edge and the second upper edge of the body has a substantiallyhorizontal pattern.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step ofproviding a floral sleeve, at least one of the first upper edge and thesecond upper edge of the body has an angular pattern.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein in the step of providing a floral sleeve, at least oneof the first upper edge and the second upper edge of the body has anon-linear pattern.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step ofproviding a floral sleeve, the floral sleeve further comprises an upperportion extending from the upper end of the body, wherein the upperportion is detachable from the upper end of the body via a detachingelement.
 6. The method claim 5 wherein the upper portion is adapted tosupport the body from a support device.
 7. The method of claim 5 whereinthe upper portion is sized to surround and encompass a floral groupingdisposed within a pot disposed within the floral sleeve in the openedcondition.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the upper portion is adaptedto support the body from a support device wherein the upper portion issized to surround and encompass a floral grouping disposed within a potdisposed within the floral sleeve in the opened condition.
 9. The methodof claim 5 wherein the detaching element comprises a plurality ofperforations.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providinga floral sleeve, the floral sleeve is provided by detaching the floralsleeve from a pad of the floral sleeves.
 11. The method of claim 10wherein the floral sleeves are connected in the pad via a connectingbonding material disposed between the upper portions of adjacent floralsleeves in the pad.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the floralsleeves are connected in the pad via a staple, clip, wicket, pin, tie orwire.
 13. A method of covering a pot, comprising: providing a floralsleeve comprising: a body having an upper end, a lower end, a firstpanel having a first upper edge and a first lower edge, a second panelhaving a second upper edge and a second lower edge, an interior spaceand a gusset extending inwardly from the lower end into the interiorspace, the body having a left side edge sealed from the upper end to thelower end, a right side edge sealed from the upper end to the lower end,the first panel and the second panel together forming a sidewall in thebody, the body tapered from the upper end to the lower end, the gussethaving an inner fold extending from the left side edge to the right sideedge, the body initially having a flattened condition, and wherein whenthe body is opened from the flattened condition to an opened conditionfor containing a pot, the gusset is unfolded to form a bottom in thebody, the bottom having a lower bottom surface, a left side bottomsurface extending upwardly from the lower bottom surface to the leftside edge, and a right side bottom surface extending upwardly from thelower bottom surface to the right side edge, and an upper portionextending from the upper end of the body, wherein the upper portion isdetachable from the upper end of the body via a detaching element, andwherein the detaching element comprises a plurality of perforationshaving a non-linear pattern, such that when the upper portion isdetached from the upper end of the body, the upper end of the body isleft with an upper edge having a non-linear pattern; opening the floralsleeve to expose the interior space; and disposing a pot withing theinterior space to form a covered pot.
 14. The method of claim 13 whereinin the step of providing a floral sleeve, the floral sleeve is providedby detaching the floral sleeve from pad of floral sleeves.